Stan Alieke, lawyer to controversial rapper Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington or Akpi, has accused Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy of using his influence to keep his client behind bars. This is despite a court ruling ordering the rapper’s release.
Speaking to Saturday Beats, Alieke alleged that the police, influenced by powerful individuals, are ignoring the legal directive.
He said, “There’s no doubt that this case involves some powerful people. Burna Boy is on one side, and the police seem to be acting emotionally rather than following the law. Regardless of anyone’s personal feelings, a court ruling must be obeyed.”
The lawyer argued that if Burna Boy believes he’s been defamed, he should follow the proper legal channels. “If Burna claims defamation, the right thing to do is to seek legal remedies in court. But instead, he’s using his influence over the police because of his power and connections,” Alieke added.
He further explained that the case has not properly gone to court. “This matter hasn’t been heard by any court. It was only filed in November. The last time we met with Burna Boy was during an attempt to resolve the issue at the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in Abuja.
“At that meeting, Burna barely spoke. His lawyer did most of the talking, claiming Burna had lost several gigs due to videos Akpi posted. Burna demanded the videos stop and requested a public apology, which I personally drafted,” he explained.
Alieke also expressed concern about Speed Darlington’s health and the treatment he’s receiving in detention.
“His family is deeply hurt. His mother and brother call me almost every night, worried about his condition. Akpi is trying to stay strong, but he hasn’t been feeling well. When I saw him two days ago, I insisted he should be taken to the hospital. He’s not been eating properly because they aren’t feeding him,” he said.
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